I Should Be Careful What I Wish...

[brickabrackish]

Greetings Everyone!

I'm so glad I found this site, as I'm new to keeping fish, and I've a lot to learn very quickly!
It all started because I live in the mountain desert, Southwestern, United States. During our flood season, I get vernal pools on my ranch that quickly fill up with tadpole and fairy shrimp, actual tadpoles, blood worms, (mosquito larvae), and yes, even tiny fish and leeches. I had a blast feeding the occupants of these pools TetraMin fish food, and watching them grow enormous before the pools dried up and the occupants disappeared. This lead me to want to keep my own fish year-round, so I put out the word, and my wish was instantly answered in spades... A very sick relative left me their patched up 150 gallon tank, filled with brackish water fish that were raised on our local hard well water and 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt per five gallons. The occupants of this dangerously decrepit tank were/are as follows:
Livebearers: Marble Mollies, Velvet Wag Swordtails, Sunset, and Sunset Wag Platies.
Three Australian Rainbowfish.
Two red and white baby Koi.
Three Violet Gobies.
Two Plecostomus.
Three Blood Fin Tetras.
One live Sword plant.
No babies from anyone, though I've had the tank for three months now. Everyone is sleek and brightly colored, even the Violet Gobies, despite me. Very hearty appetites! The strange thing is that I very occasionally get a dead fish, and these single deaths do no coincide with any water changes. I change out 50% of the water every week because these guys are so damned messy! Food is flake, frozen bloodworms and turtle food, algae wafers, cooked zucchini, pureed shrimp, and other cooked veggies.
The tank has a giant cylindrical sponge filter and pump (built into one) that sits in the center of the tank and spouts water through a long tube above the water surface. The setting for this spout is very low so it only gently ripples the water surface.
I would like to change everyone over to a 175 Gallon indoor pond, but I'm afraid, because I've never done this before, and I heard new tanks can be killers, and I get all kinds of conflicting info on the different species of fish I'm taking care of.
That's why I'm here, for the immediate and long-term health of my new housemates. I look forward with great anticipation, to your input. Thanks Very Much, Brickabrackish.

 

[mark.w.jones]

to TFF. Thats a pretty hefty 1st tank There are a few issues as I see. Firstly, your only true brackish species are your gobies and your mollies. The rest are all freshwater and probably not really flourishing in you brackish water despite first appearances. Also, your filter does not sound the most efficeint. For oxygen to get into your water a fair amount of surface agitation is required which by the sounds of things your filter is not doing although I'm struggling to imagine your filter to be honest. How old is it?

I have not kept brackish fish before although from what I have read gobies are a very hardy species. My personal feeling, with the fish you have is to donate the gobies and then go freshwater with what you have left. You may get more joy asking about this scenario in the brackish forum.

With regard to the rest. Rainbows really need a school of 5+ members. Sword tails do best with 1 males to 3 females of more. Mollies the same. (The dirty little buggers are sex pests). Tetras again 6+ member minimum. Koi are really coldwater fish and not really suitable for a tropical tank IMO although some would argue.



ps read all the pinned articles in this forum and tropical chat. Loads of useful info.

 

[brickabrackish]

to TFF. Thats a pretty hefty 1st tank

You said it! Wow! I wish this would happen to me when I wish for money! LOL!
BTW: Thank you for such a prompt response



There are a few issues as I see. Firstly, your only true brackish species are your gobies and your mollies. The rest are all freshwater and probably not really flourishing in you brackish water despite first appearances.

I would agree with you one-hundred percent on this under all other circumstances... I can only plead an exception because I am in contact with the breeder, who raised these fish in the well water and salt formula I mentioned earlier. When I tried to gradually wean the swordtails and others to fresh water, (over the course of seven water changes), they died before I could remove the last of the salt. I'm terrified to try again. My fish do have very vivid colors, clear eyes, and beautiful fins, since day one, and we are three months in, with no apparent stress issues. The swordtail females are now quite big, well past two inches, but I admit, I'm having trouble keeping the males alive. The first jumped the tank, and, I've found two belly up on separate occasions. This latest one has been doing good so far. Is there something else I should do?


Also, your filter does not sound the most efficeint. For oxygen to get into your water a fair amount of surface agitation is required which by the sounds of things your filter is not doing although I'm struggling to imagine your filter to be honest. How old is it?

The filter pump is only eight months old. It's a model commonly used for filtration and aeration of outdoor ponds, so it actually pumps a huge amount of water, and I have to keep it turned down or my small fish are blown away.

I have not kept brackish fish before although from what I have read gobies are a very hardy species.

One of my sources of pride is that, though I am an amateur fish owner, I've actually managed to put weight and color on the gobies, which I understand are very hard to feed and nurture. That all three of my dragon fish are doing so well just tickles me, and amazes the supplier. My gobies will come to the surface of the water when I turn off the lights, and that's when I feed them. Would that I were so lucky with all fish. I'm great for killing goldfish, and have no idea why, but it breaks my heart. Can't say goldfish are for beginners.

My personal feeling, with the fish you have is to donate the gobies and then go freshwater with what you have left. You may get more joy asking about this scenario in the brackish forum.

I'm more likely to hang onto the brackish water fish, as I've had better luck with them. Thanks for the reference to the brackish forum though, and you've given confirmation about my suspicions regarding the intermittent single fish deaths. This helps... Thanks!

With regard to the rest. Rainbows really need a school of 5+ members.

Does the gender ratio matter here?

Sword tails do best with 1 males to 3 females of more. Mollies the same. (The dirty little buggers are sex pests).

LOL! And they have no reservations on breed or size!

Tetras again 6+ member minimum. Koi are really coldwater fish and not really suitable for a tropical tank IMO although some would argue.



ps read all the pinned articles in this forum and tropical chat. Loads of useful info.

Thanks for everything! Much appreciated!

 

[*Fishkies*]

Does the gender ratio matter here?

A gender ratio matters mostly because if there are more males then females the males have the possibility to kill the females because the females get to stressed, from the males trying to mate with them all the time.

 

[brickabrackish]

Does the gender ratio matter here?

A gender ratio matters mostly because if there are more males then females the males have the possibility to kill the females because the females get to stressed, from the males trying to mate with them all the time.

Hi!
I didn't know that! In this case, I do think I have more male Mollies than females, and I'm certain that one of the males is a young sailfin. His dorsal fin is quite large, and he's always raising it on display. Very pretty, but he's also the most aggressive fish in the tank. The Swordtails are four females to one male. I can't tell what gender my Rainbows are... One is much larger than the other two, and is a medium olive color. It is also deeper than it is wide. The other two are more colorful, smaller, and long rather than deep. If these were livebearers, I'd guess the largest was female, but there is also a very distinct age difference between the three of them. On that note, I can't tell the gender differences for the three Violet Gobies either, and there are also three very difference sizes in this threesome. No way I can tell what genders the Bloodfins are.
Thank you for your response, hope to hear back from you!